Automobile.



C. E. COX.

AUTOMOBILE. APPLICATION FILED 00129. 1909.

Patented June 28, 1910.

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AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED 00129, 1909.

Patented June 28, 1910.

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CLAUDE E. COX, OF MINHEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMOBILE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented- June 28, 1910.

i Application filed October 29, .1909. Serial No. 525,365.

of the rear axle structure, motion .being transmitted to the transmission gearing from the motor through a suitable universal joint which is generally arranged at approximately the center of the yielding connection between the main frame and the rear axle structure. In such a construction difliculty is experienced in providing mechanism by means-of which the speed varying gears can be shifted relative to each other, the most usual construction being one in which the controlling levers partake of the movement of the body of the speed changing 1 transmission (considered as a whole) relative to the main frame. Such a construction is objectionable to many drivers owing to the constant movement of the controlling members and the object of my present invention is therefore to produce a construction by means of which the controlling levers or controlling member may be mounted upon the main frame and yet connected to the speed varying transmission gearing in such manner that the bodily movementthereof relative to the main frame will not interfere with the proper manipulation and maintenance of the various portions of thetransmission gearing relative to each other.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of my invention. Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the main frame, controlling lever, brake lever, and associated parts; Fig. 2 a side clevation thereof; Fig. 3 a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, and Fig. 4 a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 3. In the drawings, 10 indicates the main frame, 11 the motor carried thereby, 12 the forward wheels, 13 the rear wheels, and 14' the rear axle structure, all of any desired construction. The rear axle structure comprises a forwardly and upwardly extending memment of the upper end .lever.

ber 15 which comprises the casing 16 of suitable speed changing transmission gearing of any desired type and at the forwardv end this casing is provided with a ball 17 which is mounted within a socket 18 carried by the main frame so thatthe rear axle structure has a ball and socket connection with the main. frame, the main drive shaft from-the engineconnecting with the initial shaft of the transmission gearing by means of the joint within the ball and socket in a well known manner, or in any other desirable and suitable way.

The transmission gearing is of such character as to be capable of three or four different relative arrangements and for this purpose there are provided two shifting members 21 and 22 each of which is capable of a forward and backward movement, in a well known manner. Lying between these two ,members 21 and 22, and capable of engaglng and operating either of said members, 18

an operating arm 23 which is carried by a rock shaft 24 journaled inthe casing 16 and capable of enough axial movement, to either side of its med al pos1t1on, to permit arm 23 -to be thrown into engagement with either arm 21 or arm 22.

Thus far the particular construction forms no part of my present invention, the drawings, as to these parts, being merely diagrammatic.

It has heretofore been proposed to connect the controlling lever, by means of which the shaft'24 is rocked and shifted, directly to said shaft, the controlling member thus partaking of the movement of the casing 16 about the ball and socket joint.

Such a construct on however is objectionable because of the considerably amplified move of the controlling My improved construction however permits the placing of the controlling lever upon a fixed member" of the scat frame. For this purpose I provide'a bracket 25 which is secured to one ofthe side members of the frame 10. J ournaled in bracket 25 is a substantially horizontal shaft 26 which, at its inner end is connected, by a universal joint structure 27 with a link or-shaft section 28,.which, in. turn, is connected by a universal joint structure 29 with shaft 24. Shaft 24 is provided with a collar 32 which lies between a pair of plates 33, 33 which are urged against the collar 32 in opposite the universal joints 27 and 29.

directions by springs 34, thus normally tending to bring theshaft 24'to its medial axial position. i

At its outer end, shaft 26 is provided. with a transverse extension or finger 41 which lies within a groove 42 formed in the lower end of the controlling lever 43. Lever 43 is connected to shaft 26 by a pivot pin 44 which lies substantially at right angles to the groove 42 so that, while lever 42 may have a limited swing about pivot 44, the finger 41 of shaft 26 will at all times remain within groove 42 so that the shaft 26.will

partake of any'rocking movement of lever 43 about the axis of 'shaft 26. Lever 43 extends upwardly btween a pair of uide plates 45 carried by bracket 25 and said lever is provided, between the guide plates 45, with a globular swelling 46 which serves as a pivot upon which the lever 43 may have a limited swing, between the plates 45 as fulcrums,-upon an axis substantially parallel with the axis of pivot pin 44. Bracket 25 may also carry a rock shaft 51 to 0ne end. of which is secured a brake-controlling lever 52 and to the opposite end of which is secured a lever 53 to which may be'connected suitable links 54 extending back .to the brakes.

The operation is as follows: Movement of the transmission casing 16 relative to the main frame '10 is permitted by reason of Shaft 24 may be moved axially by anoutward or inward swing of the upper end of the controlling lever 43 (pivoting on the swelling 46) and this axial movement of shaft 24 will bring the arm-23 into-engagement with one or the other of the shifting members of the transmission gearing whereu on said shiftmg members may be actuate by a forward I or backward movement of the controlling lever 43 in a well known manner, this for ward .or backward movement rocking shafts 26 and 24. v

I claim as-my invention: 1. In an automobile, the combination, with the. main frame and its supporting" wheels, of a driving axle structure, a transmission gearing drivingly connected'with the movable members of the driving axle structure and movable as a whole relative to the main frame,'a controlling lever mounted upon the main frame andmovable thereon in two planes, a rock shaft carried by the body of the-transmission gearing and'movable therein both rotatively and axially, a member carried by said rock shaft and adapted to engage with either of two shifting members comprisedwithin the transmission gearing, and intermediate flexible connections between the controlling lever and said rock-shaft, compensating the relative movement between the transmission gearing body and the main frame, whereby said rock shaft may be "shifted both rotatively and axially by the controlling lever on the main frame.

2. In an automobile, the combination, with the main frame and its sup orting wheels, the driving axle structure, an transmission gearing connected with and partaking of the movement of the driving axle structure, said transmission gearing comprising a controlling member for alternate engagment with two gear-controlling members, of an operating member mounted upon the main frame and capable of swing in two 4 planes, and a laterally flexible connection between said member and the controlling controlling member. of thetransmission gearing. I 4. In an automobile, the combination,

with the main frame and its supporting wheels, the driving axle structure,- and trans mission gearing connected with and partak-.

ing of the =movement of the driving axle structure, said transmission gearing com prising a controlling member for alternate engagement with two gear-controlled members, of an operating member mounted upon the mainframe and capable of swing .in two planes, a laterally flexible connection be tween said member and the controlling member of the transmission gearing, a shaft journaled uponithe mainframe and capable of both rotative and axial movement, a connectionbetween said shaft and the lastmentioned controlling lever whereby said shaft may be moved both rotatively and axially by'the controlling lever, and a shaft connection between said ,last-mentioned shaft and the controlling member of the transmission'gearing, said shaft connection comprising a pair of universaljoints, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an automobile, the combination, with the main frame and its supporting wheels, the driving axle structure, and transmission gearing connected with and partaking of the movement of the driving axle structure, said transmission trolling member with two gear-controlling members and capable of rotative and axial selective movement, of an operating member mounted gearing comprising a conor alternate engagement 902,626 &

upon the main frame and capable of swing comprising a pair of universal joints, subin two planes, a shaft journaled upon the stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

main frame and capable of both rotative and In witness whereof, I have hereunto set axial movement, a connection between said my hand and seal at Indianapolis, Indiana, 5 shaft and the-operating member whereby this 27th day of October, A. D. one thou- 15 said shaft may be moved both rotatively sand nine hundred and nine.

and axially by the controlling lever, and a CLAUDE E. 'COX.. [L. s] shaft connection between said last-mentioned Witnesses:

shaft and the controlling member of the ARTHUR M. Hoon,

0 transmission gearing, said shaft connection FRANK A. FAHLE. 

